Projectile with maximized ballistic stopping power

ABSTRACT

A projectile designed to increase stopping power by imparting greater energy into a target is provided. The projectile may provide a body portion interconnecting a tail portion and a nose portion. The nose portion may be defined as six concave lines symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the projectile. The six concave lines define the nose portion as it extends from a distal penetrator portion, to a neck portion, to a shoulder portion, and then to an ogive portion, wherein the ogive portion transitions into the body portion. The nose portion may be dimensioned and adapted to dispose the center of gravity of the projective near a midpoint of the body portion. The shoulder portion may be dimensioned and adapted so that when the penetrator portion penetrates a medium of the target, the medium contacts the shoulder portion at a sufficient angle of incidence to urge the resultant force to produce rotation about the center of gravity, facilitating rapid tumbling of the projectile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to projectiles and, more particularly, abullet designed to increase stopping power.

Full metal jacketed bullets have a core substantially encased in a shellor “jacket,” for advantageous purposes, such as hard-target efficacy,higher muzzle velocity and the like. However, there are somedisadvantages to jacketing a bullet. For instance, whereas hollow pointand soft-tipped bullets are designed to expand upon impact, metaljacketed bullets have a very limited capacity to expand. This generallymakes the bullet pierce and completely pass through a soft target (softtissue animals), resulting in a small cavity, often leading to lesssevere wounding, and possibly failing to disable the target.

Specifically, current designs of full metal jacketed bullet have highenergy and will often pass through the object without imparting the fullenergy of the bullet upon the soft tissue, thus limiting the stoppingpower necessary to incapacitate the object. Solid projectiles havesimilar deficiencies.

This over-penetration of the soft target by the full metal jacketedbullets and solid projectiles does not impart enough energy into thesoft tissue, often leaving a small cylindrical channel upon exiting thebody of soft tissue. As a result, the lack of a large cavity and smallexit wound limits the bullet's stopping power.

As can be seen, there is a need for a full metal jacket or solidprojectile designed to increase stopping power by imparting greaterenergy into the soft tissue than currently designed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a projectile formed from asuitable material for maximizing ballistic stopping power includes: acore that is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, said core forminga novel shape having a generally cylindrical body portion; a noseportion; and a shoulder portion disposed along a circumference of thenose portion, wherein the shoulder portion is dimensioned and adapted toprovide a predetermined angle of incidence.

In another aspect of the present invention, a full metal jacket formedfrom a suitable material for maximizing ballistic stopping powerincludes a jacket that is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, saidjacket forming a novel shape having a generally cylindrical bodyportion; a nose portion defined by six concaved lines symmetrical aboutthe longitudinal axis, forming: a shoulder portion dimensioned andadapted to provide a predetermined angle of incidence; an ogive portioninterconnecting the body portion and the shoulder portion; a penetratorportion; a neck portion interconnecting the penetrator portion and theogive portion; and a boat tail portion interconnecting the nose portionand the body portion, wherein the nose portion and the boat tail portionare dimensioned and adapted to dispose a center of gravity of the jacketnear the midpoint of the body portion.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a section cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, illustrating a center ofgravity;

FIG. 5 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary state of flight;

FIG. 6 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary state of impact/tumble;

FIG. 7 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary state of yaw/tumble;

FIG. 8 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary state of yaw/tumble;

FIG. 9 is a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary state of yaw/tumble;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the prior art;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the prior art demonstrating an exemplaryangle of incidence;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, demonstrating an exemplary angle of incidence;

FIG. 13 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,demonstrating two shock waves from impact; and

FIG. 14 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,demonstrating two shock waves from impact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a projectiledesigned to increase stopping power by imparting greater energy into atarget. The projectile may provide a body portion interconnecting a tailportion and a nose portion. The nose portion may be defined as sixconcave lines symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of theprojectile. The six concave lines define the nose portion as it extendsfrom a distal penetrator portion, to a neck portion, to a shoulderportion, and then to an ogive portion, wherein the ogive portiontransitions into the body portion. The nose portion may be dimensionedand adapted to dispose the center of gravity of the projective near amidpoint of the body portion. The shoulder portion may be dimensionedand adapted so that when the penetrator portion penetrates a medium ofthe target, the medium contacts the shoulder portion at a sufficientangle of incidence to urge the resultant force to produce rotation aboutthe center of gravity, facilitating rapid tumbling of the projectile.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 14, the present invention embodies aprojectile 10 designed to increase stopping power by imparting greaterenergy into a medium 40, such as soft tissue, that it penetrates. Theprojectile 10 may be any projectile having a core 14. The core 14 may bemade of material of suitable strength, such as metal, metallic alloys,plasticized materials and the like. For example, the projectile 10 canbe defined as a solid bullet, one piece of metal or metal alloy, whereinsuch unitary construction facilitates an easier and more cost-effectivemanufacturing process. In certain embodiments, the projectile 10 mayprovide a jacket 12 substantially encasing the core 14. The jacket 12may be formed from a solid, alloyed, and/or composite material ofsufficient strength.

The projectile 10 has a generally cylindrical body portion 18interconnecting a boat tail portion 20 and a nose portion. The form ofthe nose portion may be defined as six concave lines symmetrical withrespect to a longitudinal axis of the projectile 10. The concave linesdefine the nose portion as it extends from a distal penetrator portion22, to a neck portion 24, to a shoulder portion 26, and then to an ogiveportion 16, wherein the ogive portion 16 transitions into the bodyportion 18. The forms of the projectile, including the nose portion, maybe formed into the core 14 of a unitary, “solid bullet,” or may beformed into the jacket 12 of a jacketed bullet.

The present invention utilizes the form and shape of the projectile 10design to dispose the center of gravity 30 near the mid-point of thebody portion 18. In certain embodiments, the proportional size and shapeof the ogive portion 16, the shoulder portion 26, and the neck portion24 relative to the body portion 18 shifts the center of gravity 30toward the midpoint of the body portion 18, while not requiring multiplematerials for the core 14.

The form of the shoulder portion 26 may be dimensioned and adapted sothat when the penetrator portion 22 penetrates the medium 40, the medium40 contacts the shoulder portion 22 at a predetermined angle ofincidence, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The overall projectile 10 designproduces a tumbling effect earlier, produced by the resultant forcesurged by the predetermined angle of incidence, when compared toconventional bullet designs 54, when the projectile 10 hits its target.

Conventional bullet designs 54, such as full metal-jacketed and solidbullets for rifles are generally 3 to 5 calibers long. If they hit asoft medium 40 while in stable flight, they cause a wound channel thatcan be divided into three clearly-distinguishable sections. The firstsection consists of a straight entry channel, known as the narrowchannel. At its narrowest point, the diameter of this channel generallycorresponds to approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times the caliber of the bullet.The more blunt the bullet and the higher the energy, the wider thenarrow channel at its narrowest point. The narrow channel is created asfollows: When a bullet enters a soft target medium 40, extremely highpressure is created at the tip, owing to the high density of the medium40 which, from the bullet's point of view, is flowing towards it, seeFIG. 10, “the flow 54.” The viscosity and inertia of the medium 40 causethe flow 54 to break away from the surface of the conventional bullet atan early stage, which means that only a small part of the conventionalbullet's tip is in contact with the medium 40 and hence exposed to thispressure, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Moreover, because of theconventional form, a large percentage of the conventional bullet'ssurface is not in contact with the medium 40 and is hence subjected tovirtually no forces traverse to its longitudinal axis, as illustrated inFIG. 11. At this point, inertia forces predominate, and friction can beessentially ignored.

In the present invention, as the projectile 10 enters a soft targetmedium 40, penetrator portion 22 first, again extremely high pressure iscreated at the tip owing to the high density of the medium 40 which,from the point of view of the projectile 10, is flowing towards it. Andlikewise the viscosity and inertia of the medium 40 causes the flow 52to break away from the surface until, however, the flow 52 reaches thepresent invention's novel shoulder portion 26. The form and shape of theshoulder portion 26 urges the medium 40 and so pressure force againstthe shoulder portion 26, as a novel flow 50 breaks off on anapproximately 45 degree angle from the surface of the projectile 10, asillustrated in FIG. 12. This novel flow 50 starts a second shockwave 60in the soft tissue, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The resultantpressure force tends to produce rotation in the form of an overturningmoment.

Overturning moments cause bullets to yaw/tumble, as illustrated in FIG.6 through 9. The overturning moment depends mainly on the angle ofincidence at the point of impact. If the conventional bullet 54 is in asufficiently stable flight, the angle of incidence is small and theoverturning moment is hence smaller than the stabilizing gyrostaticmoment. A bullet, which acts like a gyroscope, executes a precessionmovement under the influence of this overturning moment. However, as thebullet's velocity decreases, more of its surface comes in contact withthe medium 40 increases which leads to an increase in force transverseto the longitudinal axis and hence to an increase in the overturningmoment applied. This, in turn, increases the angle of incidence, causingthe overturning moment to increase still further. This positive feedbackrapidly causes the bullet/projectile to yaw/tumble.

Therefore, the length of the narrow channel hence depends on the angleof incidence at the point of impact, on gyroscopic stability and on theform of the nose portion. The shape/form of the shoulder portion 26 maybe dimensioned and adapted to provide a sufficient angle of incidence ofthe projectile 10 so as to facilitate a rapid tumbling when in contactwith the medium 40 by urging the resulting pressure force, or theproduct thereof, to be applied traverse to its longitudinal axis morerapidly then a conventional bullet 54.

Because the bullet rotates about its centre of gravity, the base of thebullet (or the tip, if the bullet rotates in the opposite direction) isforced into the medium 40 at a high speed. The resultant force caused bythe shoulder portion 22 is applied a lever-arm's distance from thecentre of gravity 30, producing a torque. This torque or overturningmoment is measured by the product of the resultant force into its leverarm—the distance from the resultant force (shoulder portion 26) and thecenter of gravity 30. Since the form and shape of the nose portiondisposes the center of gravity 30 near the midpoint of the body portion18—the lever arm is elongated—hastening an overturning moment sufficientto facilitate rapid tumbling of the projectile.

The tumbling effect, where the projectile 10 pitches through the softtarget (medium 40), as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 9, causes a largerwound cavity and exit wound as compared to conventional bullets 54. Thetumbling effect transfers more of the kinetic energy of the projectile10 to the soft target. Moreover, the present invention's designed shapecreates two additional shockwaves in the target, creating a largertemporary cavity, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The kinetic energyand penetration of the projectile is transferred into the target, notthrough it. As a result, the projectile 10 could be used in hostagesituations so that the projectile 10 does not over-penetrate the target,continuing through a nearby wall, injuring innocent by-standers.

A method of making the present invention may include the following.Using a specially made bullet dies and manufacturing process (notshown), configured to the aforementioned design shape, the projectile 10is pressed with sufficient force into the die. Upon release of theforce, the new projectile 10 drops out. The projectile or projectile 10may be used with any caliber weapon or size of bullet.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A projectile formed from a suitable material formaximizing ballistic stopping power, comprising: a core that issymmetrical about its longitudinal axis, said core forming a novel shapecomprising: a generally cylindrical body portion; a nose portion; and ashoulder portion disposed along a circumference of the nose portion,wherein the shoulder portion is dimensioned and adapted to provide apredetermined angle of incidence.
 2. The projectile of claim 1, furthercomprising a jacket substantially encasing said core so as to form thenovel shape.
 3. The projectile of claim 1, further comprising a boattail portion interconnected to the by nose portion by the body portion.4. The projectile of claim 3, wherein the nose portion furthercomprises: an ogive portion interconnecting the body portion and theshoulder portion; a penetrator portion; and a neck portioninterconnecting the penetrator portion and the ogive portion.
 5. Theprojectile of claim 4, wherein the nose portion is dimensioned andadapted to dispose a center of gravity of the core near the midpoint ofthe body portion.
 6. The projectile of claim 4, wherein the nose portionis defined by six concaved lines symmetrical about the longitudinalaxis.
 7. The projectile of claim 6, further comprising a jacketsubstantially encasing said core so as to form the novel shape.
 8. Theprojectile of claim 6, wherein the core comprises a solid bullet.
 9. Theprojectile of claim 7, wherein the core and the jacket comprise a fullmetal jacket bullet.
 10. A full metal jacket formed from a suitablematerial for maximizing ballistic stopping power, comprising: a jacketthat is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, said jacket forming anovel shape comprising: a generally cylindrical body portion; a noseportion defined by six concaved lines symmetrical about the longitudinalaxis, forming: a shoulder portion dimensioned and adapted to provide apredetermined angle of incidence; an ogive portion interconnecting thebody portion and the shoulder portion; a penetrator portion; a neckportion interconnecting the penetrator portion and the ogive portion;and a boat tail portion interconnecting the nose portion and the bodyportion, wherein the nose portion and the boat tail portion aredimensioned and adapted to dispose a center of gravity of the jacketnear the midpoint of the body portion.
 11. The full metal jacket ofclaim 10, further comprising a core substantially encased by the jacket.